Human-Centered Design: what architects can learn from UX designers

Architecture and UX design have evolved to prioritize human needs, each taking its own path to the same goal, writes Ankitha Gattupalli in ArchDaily. Approaching architectural design with a UX designer’s mindset ensures a more holistic approach to designing the experience of using a building. From the outset, a stronger understanding of the user enables human behavior to dictate the design to a greater degree. Whether a building, a website, a logo or a pair of pants, designing for people is what all design is about. 

Both architects and UX designers create experiences – one being physical and the other, digital. UX designers are involved in the process of acquiring and integrating a digital product, dealing with aspects like visual design, branding, usability, and function. The ideation processes highlight similarities between the disciplines – starting out with in-depth research on the site, context, and spatial demands; or users, business targets, and the product. Architects use this information to sketch out ideas in the form of spatial layouts, sections, or master plans and later develop prototype 3D models. UX designers would use the attained data to wireframe the design concept and develop basic layout blocks to outline the product flow.